UPDATE: 12:22 a.m.: The Virginia Department of Health is said to be working closely with the Salem Water Treatment Plant to be sure that drinking water is not disrupted after Saturday morning’s train derailment which was caused by a bridge that failed as a Norfolk Southern train was crossing it near Bartley Drive in Roanoke County.

Impacts on the environment are expected to be largely physical; however, DEQ is coordinating with local, state and federal agencies as well as Norfolk Southern to collect samples from the river to determine whether there have been impacts on the quality of the water.

“Out of an abundance of caution, Salem is currently withdrawing water from groundwater wells and not the Roanoke River until water samples from the river can be collected and analyzed. The City has sufficient back-up water resources and no disruptions to service are anticipated,” said a Roanoke County news release.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) responded to the location of the incident shortly after it happened and have been coordinating with NSC on the removal of the rail cars and coal from the Roanoke River.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — Local emergency crews are responding to a train derailment in Roanoke County.

The incident happened around 11:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, along Barley Drive.

According to a representative from Norfolk Southern, 26 rail cars derailed. No one on the train crew was injured and no hazardous materials were involved.

The coal train was en route from Weller to Norfolk.

Multiple agencies are on scene coordinating cleanup and recovery efforts.

The cause of the derailment is still under investigation.

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